Thousands of Brazilians took to the streets of the nation’s largest cities on Tuesday and Wednesday in anticipation of a Supreme Court decision that opened the door for the arrest of socialist presidential frontrunner Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva late Thursday morning.

Brazil’s Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) ruled early Thursday morning against a habeas corpus petition that would have kept socialist former president and presidential frontrunner Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from beginning to serve a 12-year prison sentence for corruption.

Protesters in Brazil have organized street manifestations on Tuesday in anticipation of a final appellate decision on whether former president – and current presidential frontrunner – Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will have to begin to serve his 12-year prison sentence immediately, effectively cutting off his presidential campaign.